How to Apply as a Factory Worker in Korea (According to Point Based System)

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A lot of people commenting on my blogposts and emailing me asking “How to apply as a factory worker in Korea?”. and although I am not authorized to hire people to work here in Korea, I feel obligated as a blogger to share the information on how people in the Philippines apply as a factory worker here. Interested applicant must go through the process of EPS or Employment Permit System.

So here’s a guide for everyone out there who are interested to work in a manufacturing industry. This is based on the agreement between the Ministry of Employment and Labor of the Republic of Korea (MOEL) and the Department of Labor and Employment of the Philippines with regards to the MOU on the Sending of Workers.

There are three rounds you must pass in order to be hired as Factory worker in South Korea. Every round has corresponding points, and the points that you will acquire along the way will help you open the door of opportunity to South Korea. So what are these three rounds?

First Round: Korean Language Test

For the information of everybody, EPS-TOPIK exam is a selection criteria for jobseekers in Korea. This is a Korean language test to ensure that foreign workers who hope to work in Korea are equipped with Korean language skills. One must pass the exam first before being considered for the second step.

The announcement of EPS-TOPIK is usually posted in the POEA website (www.poea.gov.ph). There is no definite date of posting of announcement. While waiting for the announcement, I recommend you start learning Korean language. You need to pass the exam in order to be listed in the roster of applicants.

For the qualifications, please check the list below:

· Must be 18 years of age and not more than 38 years old on the next EPS-TOPIK exam date

· Must be physically and mentally fit

· Must not have any record of conviction or imprisonment

· Must not have any record of deportation or departure orders from the Republic of Korea

· Registered with active status in the POEA Manpower Registry

Registration venues will soon be posted.

What to Bring for registration:

· Valid passport or valid governmaent-issued Identification Card with picture and date of birth such as SSS, GSIS, Driver’s License or Voter’s ID

· Two (2) pcs. passport size colored picture showing a full face with no hat and taken not more than six (6) months before registration

· Registration/Test fee – US $24 or Php1,044.00. (previous exam)

Go to the respective testing venue on a specified date on the announcement and take the EPS-TOPIK exam. You must pass the exam, if not, you cannot work as a factory worker in Korea.

The exam is consists of two types, the Listening and the Reading. There are 25 items for listening and 25 items also for reading. You must answer that in 70 minutes. Test type is multiple choice.

You will be informed about the date of the announcement of test result. All you need to do is wait (usually about 7 days) for the announcement which can be found on POEA website. Once you see your name on the passer’s list, you can now submit the requirements to POEA. Please note that passing the exam does not guarantee employment, but basically, you are halfway there.

Second Round: Skills Test

Once you see your name on the passers’ list, report to POEA in your area immediately. You must bring the photocopy and original copy of the following:

The POEA will advice you to take the Skills test. Venue and date will be announced. The skills test will further measure your ability to speak and understand Korean Language. It's actually an interview using Korean as a medium of communication.

In this test, you will also receive instructions in Korean and you must do what is asked by the interviewer to pass this test. Commands, like arranging things, identifying colors, lifting objects and whatnot, will be asked in Korean language and you must do it all perfectly.

Third Round: Certifications

The certifications from your previous job experience can gain you more points for this opportunity. If you have no work experience, you can still be listed in a roster as long as you passed round 1 and round 2, but certifications will earn you the following points:

Work Experience (1 year and more) : 3 points
Licensed Certificate (1 year and more): 1 point
Vocational Training Certificate (1 year and more): 1 point

The employers in South Korea will choose the name in the roster based on the points gathered by the hopeful applicants. So it is important you have accumulated good amount of points every round.

How much does it cost?

From the POEA website, you can also see the breakdown of the cost you need to pay for processing.

In peso, it is approximately PHP35,000.

That’s it. It’s not rocket science. You just need patience and the guts. For more information about working here in Korea in general, you may want to check my other posts regarding the current minimum wage for factory workers in Korea, type of jobs in manufacturing industry and a lot more HERE.

hai i'm eighteen years of age i just want to knw po if theres a korean language traning here in mindanao davao city like victorious corea? . because i'm so interested about work as factory worker in korea at itatanong ko lan din po if may training po ba bago ka mka pag trabaho sa factory diyan sa korea?

good day po.. ex-ofw po ako from south korea as a factory worker, from nov.2005-dec.2011-finished contract. ask ko lang po kung pwede pa akong magtrabaho even if i'm 44 years old? thank you so much po.

hi po.. nakalista na po from first step to sixth step ang process ng pag aaply. You have to go home po and register and take the exam. Now, if nakpasa mo kayo at nailist na po kau sa roster, you can go back to hoingkong while waiting.

Thanks for your post. I just want to ask, is certificate of training/learning Korean laguange is required by POEA? We were told kase by our learning center that it is required para makapag-exam for EPS-TOPIK. Thanksn advance for your reply

Hi po. Im interested in working as a factory worker in korea, im willing to undergo language training but i have doubts because ill be turning 37 next month, at my age, is it still possible for me to find an employer in korea at age 37? I dont want to put into waste the money ill spend in learning korean language. Hope you can give me your opinion on this. Thank you.

hello..there's no harm in trying. Go attend. But here's my conspiracy theory, it's a language training center, they're going to market to people who are interested in working to Korea. Yes, it;s true that it's gov't to gov't process but as of now, there's no announcement of exam yet. But still, it's good if you can attend

Hi sir, thanks for making this blog. It helps a lot. I just want to ask for an opinion po. There will be an orientation this coming Monday. The name of the agency is Victorious Corea. I have plans of skipping my work on that day just to give it a try. What do you think po?

no training required. Just like you, I self studied korean language kasi I was also working before. The training that will be conducted by POEA is the only required training which will only happen if you have already selected. Pero kung balak mo mag exam, ikaw na bahala sa diskarte mo on how to learn the language.

Ask ko lang po kung how frequent it is for a female worker to actually get employed by companies in S.K? Kasi I heard that POEA stopped female applicants from taking the exam due to the low rate demand of female workers or naiba na at tumatanggap na sila ngayon ulit? Ito lang yung pinaka worry ko since I'm a female and I do really want to give my all out just to fly there and work in a factory pero dahil nga sa takot na baka di naman makukuha agad because of my gender eh baka masayang ang efforts and hardwork ko. May kilala po ba kayong female applicant na recently lang natanggap sa S.K?? Thank you :)

hello jhaycel, I am sorry but that is not possible. Kung halimbwa sponsor ka ng ate mo na pumunta dito, limited lang din ang time na pagstay mo. If you will work here, that means you need to extend beyond the time na allowed ka which means TNT ka na. The only way to work as factory worker is to go through POEA as stated in this article.

Good Day ! I find your blog so helpful for people who are aspiring to work in SK! Kudos for you! :) Anyway, i would just like to ask more information about this industry? For example, nahired ako, usually how many months will be the contract? Coz right now i am waiting for the next EPS ToPik and i will be taking that test as soon as possible. :) im 19 years old. :) but i am planning to go back here in philippines on june or july 2016 again because i will be continuing my studies. as of this year, i want to work in korea, if i got hired, usually how many months will be the contract?

Well this is just my other options of working in korea. Just making some back up plans. Hoping for your quick response Have a nice day

Hi kenne. Contracts usually last up to 3 years. You can't just work for few months and go home. If you want to work here in korea, give it at least a year if you want to stop and go back home. And few months of working here will not earn you that much money. It's not worth the time and effort of applying, sayang ang chance.

Hello, nice topic and info from the whole blog site, for aspiring Filipinos want to get a job in S. Korea thru EPS-TOPIK. I'm 25, currently 3 years na design engineer here in Bataan. Nakaka-inspire yung self review nyo then you've passed the exams. Hoping to do that too, kasi mejo kamahalan yung P7k sa mga training center then dyahe pa if may current na job pa. Hoping to be in the 13th batch.

Thanks po sa quick reply. I thought they will send me a soft copy that I can download. So that means po makikita ko yung contract sa POEA once I will visit there for contract signing? By the way, pwede na po ba kong pumunta dun anytime?